Graham County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Graham County Bail Guide: Getting Released from the Hill City Jail
Bail, bond and release for a Graham County arrest go through the sheriff's jail, 410 N. Pomeroy in Hill City, 785-421-2107. The jail page lists 14 beds and notes it also takes prisoners under contract from other counties, so ask staff whose case it is before posting.
What should I do first?
Call the sheriff's office at 785-421-2107. Ask whether the person has been booked, what the charges are, whether a bond has been set, and how it can be paid. If the person was arrested by Hill City police, the jail still holds them.
↑ Back to the question listWho decides the bond?
Judges of the 17th Judicial District, which covers Decatur, Graham, Norton, Osborne, Phillips and Smith counties. The law (K.S.A. 22-2901) entitles a person held without a warrant to a quick first appearance before a magistrate.
↑ Back to the question listWhich bonds are allowed?
Kansas recognizes five kinds of release (K.S.A. 22-2802):
- recognizance, with only a signature;
- cash for the whole amount;
- surety written by a licensed agent for a fee;
- property secured by Kansas real estate;
- a deposit of 10% on bonds of $2,500 or less for eligible defendants
Any company that charges a fee to post bond must first win approval from the chief judge of the 17th District, under K.S.A. 22-2809b. A company without that approval can't post bond in Hill City..
↑ Back to the question listHow do I post the bond?
- Bring photo ID and payment to 410 N. Pomeroy, Hill City, KS 67642.
- Confirm by phone what forms of payment the jail takes.
- A bondsman you hire can file a surety there.
- The jail accepts money orders only for inmate accounts, and no packages. See our money page and commissary page.
What release terms might apply?
Conditions often include no contact with the alleged victim for at least 72 hours on person crimes, sobriety and testing, staying inside Kansas, reporting to court services at up to $15 a week, and an alcohol and drug evaluation in felony cases. A person out on bond is also barred from visiting inmates at the Graham jail.
↑ Back to the question listHow big are bonds here?
Bond in Hill City is set case by case; call 785-421-2107 for a figure. Minor misdemeanors often allow a signature bond. DUI, domestic battery and drug possession typically carry hundreds to a few thousand dollars. Serious felonies run much higher, and holds for other counties or states may carry none.
↑ Back to the question listCan the amount be lowered?
A defense lawyer can ask the Graham County District Court to reconsider. An appointed attorney is available to those who qualify, paid by the Kansas State Board of Indigents' Defense (785-296-6631).
↑ Back to the question listWill I get the cash back?
Once the case ends, cash bond comes back to the payer if every court date was kept, minus any court-ordered deductions. A missed hearing brings forfeiture and a warrant (K.S.A. 22-2807). A surety premium stays with the agent.
↑ Back to the question listWhich court has the case?
- Graham County District Court, 410 N. Pomeroy Ave., Suite 9, Hill City, KS 67642; 785-421-3458.
- City cases: Hill City Municipal Court, Bogue Municipal Court or Morland Municipal Court.
See our court page.
↑ Back to the question listFederal charges and ICE detainers?
Federal defendants appear before a magistrate judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas, with courthouses in Wichita (401 N. Market, Room 204, Wichita, KS 67202, 316-315-4200), Topeka and Kansas City; their release is decided by that court rather than the Hill City jail. An ICE detainer permits the jail to keep someone 48 hours past release; the Chase County Jail (620-273-6313) is a frequent ICE destination. Check the ICE detainee locator, the BOP inmate locator, and our inmate search guide.
↑ Back to the question listGraham County Jail
Address:
410 North Pomeroy
Hill City, KS 67642
Phone:
785-421-2107
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Graham County
What kind of bonds are accepted in Graham County?
Who can set bail in Graham County?
When is bail set in Graham County Kansas?
Can I get the bail or bond reduced in Graham County?
In Graham County, who can pay bail for me?
Can bail be paid online in Graham County?
What options are there to pay bail in Graham County?
Does Graham County have bail?
Yes, Graham County recognized most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Graham County?
Three types of bail are available: own recognizance, cash, or professional surety. A professional surety requires the services of an authorized bail bond agent. The court will determine which bond types will be approved.
Who can set bail in Graham County?
Bail is set by a magistrate judge in the county where the defendant is being charged.
When is bail set in Graham County Kansas?
Bail will be set by a judge at the defendant’s first court appearance, also known as arraignment. This will usually occur on the first court day following arrest, except for holidays or weekends.
Can I get the bail or bond reduced in Graham County?
Yes, the Bail Reform Act allows your attorney to request a bail reduction hearing if the initial bail is excessive or unreasonably high.
In Graham County, who can pay bail for me?
The person posting bail should be a relative or close friend, called a surety, because they are promising and taking responsibility that you will return to court to get their money back.
A surety is not responsible for court fees or paying off personal debts for the defendant. A professional bondsperson who is approved by the State of Kansas could be the surety and execute a bond to the court on your behalf.
Can bail be paid online in Graham County?
No, Kansas counties do not currently offer online payment for bail.
Contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Graham County Jail for more information about the jails in Graham County.
What options are there to pay bail in Graham County?
Most all jail and courts accept cash, a cashier or bankers’ check. Some accept a credit card with fees. Please contact the jail for specific information on what methods of payment are accepted. Go to the Graham County Jail for more information about the jails in Graham County.
What is Bail?
Bail is what the arrested in Graham County must pay or do to stay out of jail until the first court appearance.
The agreement to bail acts as a promise that the arrested will return to court for court dates and trial. Bail usually refers to a dollar amount, but bail can also mean something that has to be done, or a condition such as reporting to an officer of the court, a curfew, restraining orders or attending a treatment program.
Bail is usually a significant enough amount of money and/or condition that the person will be negatively impacted and has incentive to return to court and not flee. A flight risk usually means that the person would flee the area, and not necessary that they are going to take an airplane.
If a judge in Graham County feels that the arrested will return to court for further proceedings, the arrested could be released under a conditional release without needing to pay bail money. This is called Released on Own Recognizance, or ROR.
Conditions for ROR might be to obey all court orders and laws, maintain contact with the lawyer, report changes in residence or have no contact with the victim. Family support will show the court that there are people who will make sure that the defendant makes it to court.
If the judge or bail schedule determines that the defendant would be a danger to the public if they were released, bail can be denied, and the person will be detained in the Graham County Jail until the case is resolved or goes to trial.
Bail can be denied if the defendant did not comply with bail conditions from a previous arrest. Bail is usually denied in cases of violent offenses.
What is the difference between Bail and Bond?
Bail and bond are used interchangeably to mean the same thing but technically, they are different.
The bail is the amount to be paid and a bond is a signed document promising payment of the bail amount with certain conditions.
Think of a bond as a loan to pay for the bail.
The bond payment is always written to the court in your municipality, Graham County or district directly and does not go through the defendant. Chances of obtaining a bond from a bond company or clerk of court are better if family is involved.
The thought of being in jail can cause the arrested to panic and try to secure a bond immediately.
DO NOT panic and take the time to understand all the options.
More courts are now trying to work with defendants to make bail work and might provide non-monetary options or even reduce the bail.
Payments to a bond company are not refundable. It is a long process to get back property title or money that was given to the clerk of court or bondsperson to secure the bond. This could put your loved ones into a difficult financial situation.
Another reason not to unnecessarily rush into securing a bond is that if the court notes that you came up with the money to pay a bond company, they may assume you have resources to pay a defense attorney and decline public defense.
On the other hand, as anyone who has ever been involved in their criminal defense understands, fighting your case while ‘out on the streets’ gives you a much better chance of either winning, or getting a more favorable sentence.
What are the different types of bonds in Graham County?
Based on a review of information from the arrest, the judge or bail officer will determine and notify the accused of which types of bonds are available to them.
To describe the types of bonds, let’s use an example of buying your neighbor’s car. Your neighbor decides the price of the car and how they would be paid.
Similarly, the court (meaning a police or bail officer, clerk of court, bail magistrate or judge) determines the bail amount and how it would be paid.
Here are different options that the seller of the car or the court might consider:
You could pay full asking price for the car in cash. This is similar to paying cash bail. The full amount of bail would be paid to the town or county clerk or at the jail. Cash, cashier’s checks and credit cards are usually accepted.
You could sign an agreement on your own or with another person to pay for the car at a future date knowing that your neighbor would know where to find you if you stopped payment. This would be similar to a cash bond or a personal recognizance (PR) bond which are bonds to where someone representing the defendant signs paperwork promising to pay the bail amount if the defendant does not show up to court. There is no money due up front.
If the defendant does not show up, the full amount of the bail will be due to the court and the people who signed the paperwork will be responsible for paying the court and the court will send the sheriff’s department to arrest you.
Cash bonds and PR bonds are types of unsecured bonds because you are not securing it with any money down. In bond terms, a surety is a person who will be responsible for making sure that you will show to court and will be responsible to pay the bond if the arrested person does not show up.
Surety can be family, friend or a bondsperson. Your attorney cannot act as a surety.
You can put a deposit down for your neighbor’s car and sign an agreement that the car will be paid off at a later date. Cash percentage in lieu of bonds is when the defendant pays a percentage of the bail amount, usually 10%, to the court which then holds the money until the case is over.
The amount is returned to the person who paid the 10% after the case is over. In most cases, the full amount is not returned if there are court fees or fines due. This is a type of surety bond if another person signs the bond paperwork.
You could sign an agreement that if the car were not paid off, that your neighbor would get your house or something of value.
A property bond is a bond that the courts might consider in which the bond is pledged in land or home real estate (mobile homes are not accepted).
Usually, the property must be in the same state as the courts, and it must be worth at least 1 ½ - 2 times the amount of the bond.
There are multiple court fees involved to execute a property bond with the courts and a tedious process to get the property deed back. This is another type of surety bond if another person or a bond company is used to secure the bond.
You could also go to a local bank and take out a car loan offering property or anything of value for collateral. You may get someone to co-sign on the loan and offer their property. The bank charges fees, interest and could keep your property if you did not pay the loan back, or even on time.
A professional bondsperson makes money, at least 10% of the bond amount by providing you with a “loan” called a bond. The percent that they charge is fixed by the state and cannot be negotiated. The defendant or surety does not get that 10% or more back even if the terms of the bail are met.
With a property bond, the property deed would need to be signed over to the bondsperson and everyone on the deed would need to be involved.
Since the bondsperson signed off, to be responsible that you show to court as your surety, they can send a bounty hunter to bring you to court if you flee. A bondsperson does not have to give you a bond if the defendant seems to be too much of a risk.
Ask the bondsperson to explain all the costs: percentage, fees or court fees. There is never a reason to rush through signing the paperwork with a bond company. Make sure that everything told to you is in writing and that you understand what you are signing. Ask questions, and if you feel rushed or don’t understand the contract with the bond company, you might want to call another one.
(There have been phone scams where a bond company calls and informs a person that their family member has been arrested and they ask for financial information. A bondsperson will not call asking for money without involvement of the arrested.)
Does Graham County Kansas have bail?
Yes, Graham County recognized most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Graham County?
Three types of bail are available: own recognizance, cash, or professional surety. A professional surety requires the services of an authorized bail bond agent. The court will determine which bond types will be approved.
Who can set bail in Graham County?
Bail is set by a magistrate judge in the county where the defendant is being charged.
When is bail set in Kansas? Bail will be set by a judge at the defendant’s first court appearance, also known as arraignment. This will usually occur on the first court day following arrest, except for holidays or weekends.
Can I get the bail or bond reduced in Graham County Kansas?
Yes, the Bail Reform Act allows your attorney to request a bail reduction hearing if the initial bail is excessive or unreasonably high.
In Graham County Kansas, who can pay bail for me?
The person posting bail should be a relative or close friend, called a surety, because they are promising and taking responsibility that you will return to court to get their money back.
A surety is not responsible for court fees or paying off personal debts for the defendant. A professional bondsperson who is approved by the State of Kansas could be the surety and execute a bond to the court on your behalf.
Can bail be paid online in Graham County Kansas?
No, Kansas counties do not currently offer online payment for bail.
Contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Graham County Jail for more information about the jails in Graham County.
What options are there to pay bail in Graham County Kansas?
Most all jail and courts accept cash, a cashier or bankers’ check. Some accept a credit card with fees. Please contact the jail for specific information on what methods of payment are accepted. Go to the Graham County Jail for more information about the jails in Graham County.
Will I get all my bond money back in Kansas?
Bail money is returned to the person who paid the bail; in whole or in part once the case is finished. There may be fees, restitution (money to pay for damage caused by the crime) or fines that come out of that amount. If you used a bondsperson, you would not get your 10% back. Property is returned by the court or bondsperson after the appropriate requests and formal paperwork are completed with the court.
Can I get bail or a bond with no money down in Graham County?
The judge or officer who sets bail determines which kind of bail will be an option for you, but a cash bond and PR bonds usually do not require cash down, though you might have to pay court fees.
A cash bond or a personal recognizance (PR) bond are bonds where someone representing the defendant signs paperwork promising to pay the bail amount if the defendant does not show up to court. There is no money due up front.
If the defendant does not show up, the full amount of the bail will be due to the court and the people who signed the paperwork will be responsible for paying the court and the court will send the sheriff’s department to arrest you.
Cash bonds and PR bonds are types of unsecured bonds because you are not securing it with any money down. In bond terms, a surety is a person who will be responsible to make sure that you will show to court and will be responsible to pay the bond if the arrested person does not show up. A surety can be family, friend or a bondsperson. Your attorney cannot act as a surety.
What are the least expensive and affordable bail bonds in Kansas?
The Graham County Jail or court in this jurisdiction can provide you with a list of approved and licensed bond companies, but they cannot recommend a specific company. You are not obligated to use the first company available and can call several companies to compare what kind of bonds that the bondsperson is willing to execute.
The percentage of bail that the bond company can charge is set, usually at 10%, by the state and cannot be negotiated.